Trio of Founder's Block 2015 Reds Released
Three Katnook Founder’s Block varietal reds from the 2015 vintage will be released this month. Harvested exclusively from Katnook’s proprietary vineyards, the Katnook Founder’s Block range captures the essence of Coonawarra and offers contemporary wines for everyday enjoyment.
The range is named after the original land holding of John Riddoch, the founder of Coonawarra wine region. In 1890, Riddoch set up headquarters of the newly formed Coonawarra Fruit Colony at his property ‘Katnook’. Here he made the region’s first commercial wine in his woolshed - now Katnook’s barrel room.
In 1980, winemaker Wayne Stehbens rekindled the property’s winemaking history, making the first Katnook Estate wines. In 2005, responding to evolving demands of wine drinkers, Stehbens created the singular fruit focussed Katnook Founder’s Block range, priced to entice a new audience.
Retailing at $20 a bottle, please find enclosed a sample of the latest release Katnook Founder’s Block 2015 Merlot, 2015 Shiraz and 2015 Cabernet Sauvignon. Each wine is available at Dan Murphy’s and at selected independent retailers Australia wide.
The 2015 Vintage in Coonawarra began with a warm spring, advancing flowering by about two weeks. This promoted fast and even berry set, similar to other outstanding vintages such as 2004 and 2010. Dry conditions continued through to mid-January, when a welcome 90mm of rain fell. Summer days were warm and nights were cool, providing a long and cool ripening of the reds, which were harvested from late March until early April. All show bright fruit, good varietal definition, intense colour and strong tannins. Notes for each wine are below.
KATNOOK FOUNDER’S BLOCK MERLOT 2015. RRP $20
Harvest: Early to mid-April 2015
pH: 3.48 Acidity: 5.5g/L Alc/vol:13.5%
Oak Maturation: Approximately 20 percent of this wine was matured for an average of two months in a combination of older French and American oak barrels.
KATNOOK FOUNDER’S BLOCK SHIRAZ 2015. RRP $20. Silver Medal, 2016 Decanter Asia Wine Awards, Hong Kong.
Harvest: 15 March - 02 April 2015
pH: 3.53 Acidity: 6.2g/L Alc/vol:13.5%
Oak Maturation: This wine was matured in a combination of older French and American oak barriques for three months.
KATNOOK FOUNDER’S BLOCK CABERNET SAUVIGNON 2015. RRP $20. Silver Medal, 2017 International Wine Challenge, UK.
Harvest: 08 - 17 April 2015
pH: 3.42 Acidity: 5.98g/L Alc/vol: 13.5%
Oak Maturation: Approximately 20 percent of this wine was matured for four months in a combination of older French and American oak barrels.
Katnook Founder's Block Wines are distributed by:
Fesq and Company (NSW, VIC, QLD). Tel. 1300 763 377
Off the Vine Distributors (WA). Tel. 08 9418 8210
Muster Wines (SA). Tel. 0430 360 650.